Jack hugged his baby close, listening to him whimper and gurgle softly. Since his good cry, he was moving a lot more. His legs were wiggling in the air and his hands wanted to touch everything. The baby's big blue eyes looked everywhere with interest and Jack cried tears of joy. He didn't want to get his hopes up too high in case things changed, but it was uplifting to see him look so much stronger. Mark stayed with him to watch their little baby, while Trey left to get a room ready for them. Mark kissed Jack's temple, whispering to him happily. "Look at those eyes. They are so big and bright." Jack smiled, trying to keep himself awake. It was getting harder to though. His body was just so exhausted. Mark's deep voice wasn't helping. Nor was his warmth. Resting his head on Mark's shoulder, he wanted to just snuggle him a bit... only to find himself drifting off. Jerking himself awake, he cradled the baby closer. Mark was helping to hold the baby as he told Jack lovingly. "You need to rest. You've been through a lot." Jack shook his head stubbornly, mumbling out. "He needs me."

Mark chuckled softly, whispering against his ear. "You've done more than enough. Let me help. Get some sleep and I promise that when you wake up, I'll give him back. Ok?" Jack shook his head, but his eyes were already closing. Leaning more against Mark, Jack whispered to him sleepily. "No... I don't want him to be alone..." Mark's voice came out warm and loving when he whispered. "He won't be. I'll watch over him. I promise." Jack hummed as his only response. His body was shutting down despite his will to stay awake. He felt the baby leave his arms and jerked awake, only to see Mark cradling him in his large arms. The baby stared up at Mark with wide eyes and was barely visible in Mark's arms. Part of Jack relaxed knowing the baby would be safe and warm, but another part of him didn't want anyone to hold his fragile baby. Watching Mark hum to the baby though, the baby's eyes started to close, and Jack's followed. They both had a long day. Jack was awoken not long after by the door of the trailer opening.

Trey climbed in, stomping snow from his boots and shivering. Bring in a blanket, he told Mark a bit too loud for Jack's ears. "Wrap this around the baby and I'll help you take him inside with all his tubes. Your mother is baby proofing a nice spot for him in the bedroom." Mark slowly got up and Trey pulled equipment out that was attached to him. Jack tried to force himself to get up. He wanted to go with them. His body wasn't able to roll off the chair though and the strength he needed to get up just wasn't with him. He watched them take his baby away and it broke his heart. Especially, when he heard the baby cry as the cold from outside hit him. Jack struggled in the chair to get up. Managing to sit up, when Mark came back a short time later. Jack shook his head groggily, mumbling out. "The baby?" Mark kissed his cheek, informing him calmly. "Trey is settling him in and giving him one last check up for the night. Come on. I've got you." Mark wrapped his arms around Jack, hefting him carefully up into his arms.

Jack hissed as his stomach felt pinched a bit, but merely shifted in Mark's arms to ease the pressure off. He wasn't going to let it stop him from seeing his baby. Mark carried him outside and Jack shivered. It was dark out, but the nearby streetlight showed him that it was snowing again. Mark quickly got him inside the warm house and Jack smelled the freshly baked goods. It was a strange welcoming feeling to his senses after being in a trailer that smelled like sterilizer. Even the bright colors of Christmas decorations were a beautiful sight compared to the muted white of the trailer. Mark carried him into the bedroom, laying him down on the bed. Jack started to sit up, only to realize that the baby was laying on the bed with him. The bed had been pushed against the wall and pillows lined the hard surfaces. Leaving Jack to lay by the only dangerous edge. Turning on his side, Jack adjusted the large baby blanket over his tiny baby and smiled. He'd keep him safe. Stroking his baby's tummy, he closed his eyes listening to the baby coo softly.

Jack barely heard the conversation between Mark and Trey, because Trey whispered out. "The baby will need to be changed soon. Those cloth diapers don't hold much... but he's too small to wear anything else." Mark answered him in an assuring voice. "I know. I'm just going to wait until Jack goes to sleep before doing that. Otherwise, he won't let himself relax." There was a silence in the room after that and Jack tried to use his adrenaline to stay awake but it was fading fast. The bed was warm from a heated blanket beneath the sheets and the soft Christmas music in the other room was making everything feel so calm. Mark must have noticed that he was resisting sleep, because he sat on the bed behind him. Jack didn't move, allowing Mark to rub his back as he began to read The Night Before Christmas book. The sound of Mark's deep voice was the last straw. Even as the baby wiggled and played with the blanket, Jack couldn't stay awake anymore. Jack slept so well, that when he awoke, he felt more than strong enough to face the day.

The first thing he did was look for the baby and when he didn't see him, he looked for Mark. Mark was laying down on a plush sleeping bag with the baby nestled close to his chest. Keeping to his word, Mark was awake and playing with the baby. Tickling his tiny feet and palms. The baby cooed and wiggled with a smile on his face. His baby was smiling! A toothless giddy smile. Leaning over the edge of the bed, Jack purred down to Mark. "Good morning, handsome." Mark didn't look up. So, he reached out to tug on his hair. Mark jerked his head up, asking innocently in shock. "You were talking to me?" Jack chuckled, running his hand through his hair as he told him warmly. "Yes. You've never looked sexier than you do right now." Mark chuckled, propping his head up with his hand as he said softly. "Really? The tired dad look works for you?" Jack chuckled, continuing to run his hand through Mark's thick wavy hair. It was messy and uncombed, but Jack didn't care. He felt lucky to have a man like him. Willing to stay up all night to watch over his babies.

Thinking about the others, Jack asked Mark softly. "Barry and Sam?" Mark kept playing with the baby as he answered. "Mom washed them and put them to bed for me. I've had my hands full with this one. He's been filling his cloth diaper a lot and has gotten more... wiggly." Mark tickled the baby's raised feet and when the baby laughed, they both froze. The baby grabbed his feet, trying to protect them from Mark as he wiggled and giggled softly. Looking up, Mark told him honestly. "He's never done that..." Looking up, Mark told Jack with a sudden warm expression. "Merry Christmas." Jack leaned down as much as he could, and Mark leaned up the rest of the way to kiss him. Jack moaned into the kiss. It was tender and warm. Everything he wanted a kiss with Mark to be. Jack wanted to kiss him like this all day. Until he forced himself to stop as a thought crept in. Pulling back, he asked Mark curiously. "Mark? Are you still under the potions influence?" A smile spread over Mark's lips before he whispered over his lips sweetly. "That's right... We didn't get a chance to tell you..."

Jack stiffened, asking with sudden unease. "Tell me what?" Mark brushed his lips over Jack's, telling him in a deep buttery voice. "Your labor wasn't the only thing accelerated. The potion burned itself out just before your water broke." Jack blinked, narrowing his eyes on him as he asked. "How can we be sure?" Mark kissed Jack's lips very lightly, then told him lovingly. "Trey ran tests. And I'm a little mad that you used it without telling me. So as punishment... No sex until I say so." Jack smirked with relief, then pouted out playfully. "Not even a little?" Mark shook his head, purring over his lips more breathlessly. "Nope. It will be just like when we were dating." Jack dropped his head with a loud groan, muttering out into the blanket. "No... Mark, don't do me like that..." Mark chuckled, focusing back on the baby as he said casually. "Oh, a few weeks without sex won't kill you." Jack looked up to glare at him, gruffly muttering under his breath sarcastically. "You don't know that..." Mark shrugged in response. A knock came on the door a short time later and Trey asked them a bit sleepily. "You guys alright?" Mark answered loud enough for Trey to hear and welcomed him in.

Trey checked on Jack's bandages, while asking how the night went. Jack said he felt good, and Mark replied excitedly. "Little Tim has been doing good. He's been moving around and filling his diaper after almost every meal now." Trey grinned, warmly regaling. "That's great news. No trouble breathing?" Mark winced a little, admitting honestly. "He gasps every now and again like he forgot to breathe. And sometimes if he moves too much he pauses and wheezes. Otherwise, he slept without forgetting. I kept him close to me like you said to let him feel my heartbeat." Trey finished with Jack, then moved to check on the baby. The baby giggled when Trey touched his tiny toes, causing Trey's eyes to widen in shock. Giving them both a nod, Trey informed them hopefully. "I rarely see them laugh this early. Just be careful with his asthma. We don't want to stress his lungs." Trey checked the baby's heartbeat. Jack sat on the edge of the bed, watching for any sign to worry. Seeing Trey smile, he told them warmly. "His heartbeat has gotten stronger. It's a bit fast... but he is squirming a lot and for a tike of his size. That might not be a bad thing. The more he moves, the stronger his heart will get. He's napping between?"

Mark nodded, replying happily. "After every meal. He fills his tummy and just goes out like a light." Trey played with the baby's grabby hands, chuckling out. "Warm milk has that effect. Speaking of which. I warmed up some for his first Christmas breakfast." Mark sat up, picking up the baby. Trey held up a hand and told the baby in a sweet voice. "I did have a little something for him in case he arrived today." Trey removed something rolled up and red from his pocket. Then flipping it out, he showed Mark and Mark laughed. Trey turned to show Jack and Jack blushed with a smile. It was a Christmas stocking that read in baby blue writing. "My first Christmas." Trey let Mark dress the baby in a little elf shirt that was a bit too big for him, but it was great for letting the tubes and wires stay on him. Then they bundled him in the stocking like it was a warm fuzzy blanket. It was adorable. Mark then passed the baby to Jack and slipped off to shower to help keep him awake. When Jack was dressed and ready, he went out to the living room with Trey's help to move the breathing equipment out there. Setting it up by the couch, Jack took a seat by the tree with his baby.

Barry and Sam were laying in their playpen with Mark's mother. Jason was playing with the dogs in the fenced off kitchen to keep them from crowding the newborn and getting tangled up in his wires. Mark's mom strolled over to look at the baby, cooing out as she saw his big blue eyes. "Aww, look how small he is. He's going to be a heartbreaker. I just know it." Trey laughed, heading into the kitchen to get the milk. Mark's mom asked to hold the baby and Jack reluctantly let her. Once the baby was safely in her arms, she called back into the hallway. "Mark?! Are you ready yet?" Jack glanced over the back of the couch, about to say that Mark was in the shower, until he saw Mark exit the babies room. Mark was dressed so nice that Jack bit his lip. Mark wore a long sleeve white shirt and black jeans. His hair was combed and fluffy looking now. Mark flashed him a smile, answering his mom curtly. "Ya, I'm ready, Mom." She winked at Jack, then told them all excitedly. "Alright. Go find the Christmas pickle!" Jason leapt over the baby fence, stumbling toward the tree as people laughed.

Mark made his way over more casually. While Jack winced out. "I don't want to play. I'm in no condition to-" Mark's mom huffed, cutting him off to say dismissively. "Nonsense! You're sitting right there. Just look." Jack rolled his eyes but couldn't argue with that. Leaning closer to the tree, he lazily looked. He didn't have to look for long, when he saw it nestled by a small picture of Mark and him with the babies on Santa's lap. He took the pickle but found it curious that it was kind of obviously placed. He showed it to Jason and his suspicions were confirmed. Jason was standing by the tree but wasn't actually looking for it. Mark's mom acted surprised as she told him. "You found it!" Jack narrowed his eyes on her, asking curiously. "Alright... What are you up too?" Behind the couch, Mark whispered into his ear lovingly. "It wasn't them." Jack turned to see Mark leaning on the back and holding up a small green box with a red bow. Taking the box, Jack pulled off the top to see a black box inside.

Jack removed the box and slowly opened it. While beside him, Mark told him in a beautiful tone of voice. "You can blame it on the drinks. Or on the mistletoe. But my love for you is eternal. I can't give you all that you may desire... but I'm offering a home and a family by a fire. Will you marry me?" Jack opened the box to see the ring and tried to keep himself from crying. The proposal made him blush and hit him harder than he had expected it to. Inhaling, Jack turned to look at Mark better. Placing a hand on Mark's warm cheek, he told him with a genuine smile. "Yes. I will marry you... and I'll stay this time." Mark's brows furrowed, but before he could ask, Jack leaned in to tell him with a chuckle. "Unless you don't want me to move in with you?" Mark only managed a small smile before capturing his lips in a passionate kiss. To Be Continued...